Tohoku Powder & Backcountry Guiding
The Last frontier of Japan snow wilderness
Whiteroom has spent years running exploratory tours into the Tohoku region. Our guides and regular clients have come back with tales of limitless backcountry terrain and very few foreigners.
The area we guide in Tohoku is divided into 3 main prefectures stretching up Northern Honshu. Starting with the Iwate prefecture and it’s capital city of Morioka. From this base you have the northern Appi, Hachimantai resorts, the central Shizukuishi, Amahari Onsen and Iwate Kogen resorts and the southern resort of Getto Kogen. We can also reach Tazawako from Morioka which is to the east Iwate Kogen range in the Akita prefecture. In Akita there is also the little known but epic resort of Ani. In the northern part of Tohoku we have the famous Hakkoda Mountains and Aomori Springs in the east of the prefecture. This region is huge and we can’t wait to share it all with you.
With numerous resorts and almost limitless backcountry terrain and very few foreigners, you will be blown away with the untouched lines you will get to enjoy!
PRICING & AVAILABILITY:
18 – 25 JAN 2026
¥170,000 (1 – 6 people)
- A minimum 1 day booking in the Iwate prefecture
- A minimum 2 day booking outside the Iwate prefecture
DETAILS:
6 to 1 max Client to Guide ratio
PRODUCTS:
Resort Powder & Backcountry
Lift Assisted Backcountry
Backcountry Touring
Experience the best of tohoku - the last frontier of japanese powder and culture
Tohoku guiding details
RESORT, LIFT ACCESSED & BACKCOUNTRY TOURING
AVAILABILITY:
- 18 – 25 JAN 2026
- ¥170,000 (1 – 6 people)
Tohoku area includes:
- Iwate Prefecture
- Akita Prefecture
- Aomori Prefecture
Please Note:
Your guide will be based in Morioka city.
Unlike in Niseko and Central Hokkaido, Whiteroom does not have a physical office situated in Tohoku. Therefore:
- all guiding must be organised in advance
- A minimum 2 day booking in the Iwate prefecture
- A minimum 3 day booking outside the Iwate prefecture
- Guide accommodation is not included for bookings outside Morioka, Iwate (see further details in the Inclusions & details tab)
If you do not already have your accommodation booked we can create a private guided tour for you, customised to get you the most out of your trip. Check out our Tohoku Powder Tour/Tohoku Backcountry Tour or our example itineraries.
INCLUSIONS
Guided days include:
- Your own qualified guide
- Accommodation pick-up/drop-off (7:30-8am / 4-6pm) and transportation to the resort of choice (details below)
- Flat rate – maximum of 6 clients per guide.
Guided days do not include:
- Avalanche Safety Gear (beacon, shovel, probe and backpack)
- Lift passes
- Ski/SB equipment
- Assurances on the days weather
NOTE: If you booked a certain ski resort and the lifts are shut that day we will offer up another resort. If all available resort options are closed we will try to reschedule another day (if available), or offer you a full refund
DETAILS
MORIOKA AREA GUIDING:
- A minimum of 2 days guiding must be booked
- Your guide will be based in Morioka, Iwate. Travel outside this area is available upon request.
- The resort destination can be flexible so that you get the best conditions possible.
- The guides can drive a maximum of 1.5hrs one way from their base in Morioko to your accommodation and to a local resort or backcountry area. If any further then alternate accommodation must be booked closer to your accommodation or the destination.
- If you wish your guide to join you for dinner and host you, which can include the booking of and transport to and from a restaurant, additional fees will apply.
AKITA OR AOMORI AREA GUIDING:
- A minimum of 3 days guiding must be booked.
- Depending on the location 3-4 nights accommodation must be booked for the guide – we will advise you on this.
- The guides can drive a maximum of 1.5hrs one way from the accommodation in which you have booked for them to the guided area that day. This includes picking you up from your accommodation.
- Guide accommodation must be at a minimum 2.5 star standard with private room with ensuite unless in a traditional Ryokan Onsen property. Breakfast must be included.
- If you are travelling between prefectures the guide can drive a maximum of 3 hours total in the day. The guide can also guide on snow that day on the way for example between Morioka and Aomori.
- A transfer fee will apply in certain scenarios where the guide drives over 3 hours after guiding a full day or they will only guide a reduced day.
6 NIGHT MORIOKA EXAMPLE PRIVATE PACKAGE
6-night/5-day Private Tohoku Tour – ¥POA
Inclusions
- Transfers from/to Morioka train station & daily transport
- 6 nights twin/triple share accommodation at Hotel Grand Annex Morioka
- 5 days flexi lift passes in Tohoku area. This could include any of the following resorts: Geto Kogen, Appi Kogen, Hachimantai, Shimokura, Tazawako, and Shizukushi.
- Welcome & farewell dinner parties
- Onsen (hot spring) tour
- Daily breakfast
Optional extras
- Single share accommodation
- Avalanche gear rental
8 NIGHT MORIOKA – AOMORI EXAMPLE PRIVATE PACKAGE
8-night/7-day Private Tohoku Tour – ¥POA
Inclusions
- Transfers from/to Morioka and Aomori train stations & daily transport
- 5 nights twin/triple share accommodation at Hotel Grand Annex Morioka
- 3 nights twin/triple share accommodation in Hakkoda
- 7 days flexi lift passes in Tohoku area. This could include any of the following resorts: Hakkoda, Aomori Springs, Geto Kogen, Appi Kogen, Hachimantai Shimokura, Tazawako, and Shizukushi.
- 4 dinners showcasing the areas delicious food including a welcome & farewell dinner party
- Onsen (hot spring) tour
- Daily breakfast
Optional extras
- Single share accommodation
- Avalanche gear rental
Guided Tohoku tours do not include:
- Avalanche Safety Gear (beacon, shovel, probe and backpack)
- Ski/SB equipment
- Assurances on the days’ weather
NOTE: If you booked a certain ski resort and the lifts are shut that day we will offer up another resort. If all available resort options are closed we will try to reschedule another day (if available), or offer you a full refund
We’re constantly in search of fresh lines out past the ski area boundaries in uncontrolled terrain. Whiteroom has always had safety of both our clients and guides at the centre of what we do.
Developed over many seasons we now have in place a multi layered safety system that ensures we are in keeping with the highest international standards of operating procedure. This process starts long before we touch the snow in the early hours of the morning as our team of avalanche forecasters rise to check out our weather stations at each of our home bases and match this data to what the forecast is predicting. Each day our guides in the field feed their observations into our in-house snow safety system which combined with live data allows our forecaster to post our daily avalanche hazard rating.
Working with the local Hokkaido Mountain Guides Association we now have a network of remote equipment caches across Northern Japan allowing us to have access to both rescue and medical equipment should we ever need it. In Tohoku each guide carries a full first aid kit, rescue rope kit, bivy and in each vehicle a portable sled unit. If an incident does occur in the backcountry you’ll be safe in the knowledge that our guides hold remote first aid and professional level avalanche qualifications as a minimum as well as undergoing training sessions throughout the season.
This lines up with Whiteroom’s core philosophy of developing strong relationships with the local Japanese associations to ensure a higher standard of care and safety for our client whilst we chase fresh powder and untracked terrain.
FAQS
Do I need avalanche equipment?
- YES! Avalanche safety equipment is compulsory on all guided products. This includes a transceiver, probe and shovel. You can hire this equipment from us and you will be instructed how to use this equipment and be given a safety briefing before each days riding. The gear issued to you is your responsibility and if it is lost or damaged you will pay for a new replacement.
Can other people join the group?
- No, this is a private booking. You will only have those in the group that you yourself have booked. If it’s you and your three friends then that’s who’s in the group. If it is just you then awesome. You book and we guide – no blow-ins.
How do you manage groups with mixed abilities?
- We can only guide to the lowest ability in the group. If you have a friend that’s slow and the rest of your group is fast then you may have some issues getting as much out of the day as you’d hoped. You either need to be happy that you are going slowly and accessing mellow terrain or you need to quietly ask your friend/partner to go have a beer or hot chocolate so that you can hit some more challenging terrain. Beware that we aren’t going to get into group politics so please sort out everyone’s expectations before the guided day and we’ll all have a lot more fun.
Can you guide skiers and snowboarders?
- Mixing skiers and snowboarders – whilst we don’t really mind guiding mixed groups this can limit your terrain choice and preferred line. Skiers can of course traverse hard, step up and pole out of flat spots so this opens up larger areas of terrain. Conversely, snowboarders read a mountain differently and want to smash long wide open turns and hit drops and features.
I’m a not a great skier or rider and would class myself as intermediate or lower. Will you guide me?
- We do not guide beginners or intermediates. Sorry, but we don’t see the point in guiding someone on the piste or in inbounds terrain. We recommend you book an instructor.
STANDARD CONDITIONS
View our full Terms & Conditions here.
Guide Bookings Confirmation & Payment Cancellation Policy
Please note that Guide bookings are NOT CONFIRMED until a 20% deposit has been paid. Final balance is due 30 days prior to the start of your booking.
You must complete our booking form and Registration/Waiver from before your guided day. Failure to do so will result in the cancelation of your booking.
Guide Bookings Cancellation Policy
Your 20% deposit is non-refundable unless we cancel the guided day due to unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather or guide injury.
Whiteroom will refund your full payment less the 20% deposit if notice is given 30 days prior to your booking date commencement.
Whiteroom will refund 50% of your full payment if less than 30 days but more than 7 days notice of cancellation is given.
Whiteroom will provide no refund for cancellations less than 7 days prior or a no show on your booked day.
If Whiteroom has to cancel your guided day due to adverse weather or other unforeseen circumstances you will be offered another date or a 100% refund.
Backcountry Safety Equipment Requirements
Backcountry safety equipment is compulsory for all participants on any guided day. All of the necessary equipment (transceiver, shovel, probe and backpack) is available to hire. Please advise us if you need this equipment when booking. You may also bring your own gear to use.
If your Backcountry trip requires Alpine Touring equipment, split boards or snowshoes we will advise & recommend where the equipment can be rented from if you do not already have your own.
Pre Purchasing Lift Tickets
For day trips we recommend against purchasing lift tickets in advance, as there are no additional cost savings. Pre-purchasing lift tickets may only serve to limit your flexibility. Due to localised weather patterns, conditions can often be much different at nearby resorts & may influence the final destination decision.
Ski / Snowboard Ability Requirements
We recommend that you try to have everyone in the group at a similar ability level. However we do not guide intermediates or beginners.
This is very important as experience shows that no one wants to be in over their head, holding up a group or alternatively waiting for others to make it down the mountain.
However, if you are all happy with a mixed ability group because you are all friends or family members then that is of course fine with us.
Tohoku is the best place in Japan to get away from crowds and gaijin. Join on our popular Tohoku Powder Tour, Tohoku Backcountry Tour or Inter-Island Explorer Tour, or let us build you a personalised private guided package including accommodation and all transportation across the region.
Resort Powder & Backcountry
Enjoy the best in-bounds powder and lift accessed backcountry at resorts across Tohoku.
Lift Assisted Backcountry
Let the lifts do all the work for you, then after a short boot pack or skin deep untracked powder awaits.
Backcountry Touring
Get those skins on and head even deeper into this remote region. Our guides will tour you through some of Tohoku’s best backcountry touring terrain.
Our Guides
We take two things very seriously – safety on the mountain, and getting the most from each day. With qualified and experienced guides from all corners of the globe, we’ll show you some amazing places and get you deep into that famous Japanese powder.
